Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Setters usually take a backseat when it comes to being the face of a team, but Rhea Dimaculangan is no ordinary playmaker.
Dimaculangan steered Petron to the title-clinching Game 3 win, 25-22 26-24, 25-23, over rival F2 Logistics for Philippine Superliga All-Filipino Conference title Thursday at Filoil Flying V Center.
She is just second setter to win an MVP in a PSL conference after the legendary Tina Salak, who led the Philippines to a bronze medal in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, won the award in the 2014 All-Filipino Conference.
Dimaculangan said her MVP plum is not just an award for her individual skills, but a testament to their team’s cohesiveness and willingness to help each other.
“I’m ecstatic because I know I wouldn’t have done this without the help of my teammates,” said Dimaculangan in Filipino. “We’re a family and we help each other through the ups and downs.”
Dimaculangan had 31 excellent sets, on top of her three points, to lead the Blaze Spikers to their fourth title in the PSL—the most in the league.
“This award is for all members of the team because each and every one of us worked hard and sacrificed for the championship,” said Dimaculangan.
And it wasn’t just Dimaculangan who featured in the individual awards table with teammate Aiza Maizo-Pontillas joining her Petron teammate.
Maizo-Pontillas, who was also Dimaculangan’s teammate in University of Santo Tomas, was named the Best Opposite Hitter of the league.
Cignal hitters Mylene Paat and Rachel Anne Daquis were named Best Scorer and 1st Best Outside Spiker, respectively.
Cargo Mover Kim Fajardo was named the Best Setter of the tournament while her teammate Mary Joy Baron was awarded the 2nd Best Middle Blocker.
Generika-Ayala had the most players who won individual awards with Marivic Meneses taking the 1st Best Middle Blocker Award with Patty Orendain being named the 2nd Best Outside Spiker, and Kath Arado as the Best Libero.